Guest guest Posted December 12, 2003 Report Share Posted December 12, 2003 SrimatE Raamaanujaaya Namaha // SrimatE Nigamaanta Mahaa Desikaaya Namaha // SrIman! SrI Ranga Sriyam anupadravam anudhinam Samvardhaya/ SrIman! SrI Ranga Sriyam anupadravam anudhinam Samvardhaya// KAvEri VardhathAm kAlE, kAlE varshathu vAsava: / SrI RanganAthO jayathu Sri Ranga Sri cha VardhathAm// ========================================================== SRI RANGA SRI VOL.05 / ISSUE # 08 dated 11th December 2003 ========================================================== IMPORTANT POLICY STATEMENT: Kind attention of contributors is invited to the guidelines in “Sri Ranga Sri” Issues 04/24 dated 06/05/03 and 04/25dated 06/06/03 and the amendment in 04/28 dated 07/29/03(archived at Messages 2678, 2691 and 2903). NO DISCUSSIONS will be allowed in the JOURNAL even on matters featured in the Regular Issues of the JOURNAL. Any such discussions, appreciations, comments, criticisms or responses may be addressed to -Satsangam. As only members can post, those desiring to post may enroll in the first place, by sending email to – Satsangam- =========================================================== IN THIS ISSUE: 1.IMPORTANT DAYS IN MARGAZHI (DANUR) MASAM -------------------------- 2. GOTRAS AND PRAVARAS – AN OVERVIEW –PART 16 THE GLORY OF KAASYAPA GOTRAM - 2 (Anbil Ramaswamy) (Based on Monograph of MahaamahOpaadhyaaya Sri Srivatsaankaachaar Swami, now Head of Dept. French Indolgical Research Institute, Pondicherry and “MaharishigaL Charitram” by Mimamsa SirOmaNi Mimamsa Vidvan Mimamsa Kovida, Ubhaya Mimamsa Saaragjna, Veda Vedanta ChooDaamaNi Sri N.S. Devanathachariar referred by Sri Srivatsankachariar Swami) Besides the above the following authorities were also consulted for this posting: 1. C.R. Srinivasa Iyengar Swami’s Notes on Valmiki Ramayanam 2. Monier Williams Sanskrit- English Dictionary. 3. A Classical Dictionary of Hindu Mythology and religion by John Dawson, heritage Publishers, New Delhi 4. “Who is who in the Mahabharata” by Subash Mazumdar, published by Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Bombay 5. “Life and works of Sri Nigamantha Mahadesikan”- by Prof Sri A. Srinivasaraghavan. ------------------------------- 3. FROM MAHABHARATA: “YAKSHA PRASNAM” Part 33: Prasnams 88 and 89 By Sri M.K. Ramaswamy Iyengar Swami, Senior Officer of Govt. of India. -------------------------------- 4. DESIKAMRUTHAM SRIMAD RAHASYA TRAYA SARAM By Sri Sadagopa Iyengar Swamin (of Coimbatore) “Srikaaryam” of the Board of Advisors of “Sri Ranga Sri” (Could not be accommodated in this Issue) ====================================================------------ 126 Regular issues have been released, so far besides several Special Issues) - - 27 Issues of Vol. 1 - 15 Issues of Vol. 2 - 42 Issues of Vol. 3 - 35 Issues of Vol. 4 & - 07 Issue of Vol. 5 These issues have been archived for public view at - by Sri Diwakar Kannan (diwakark) You may also view the archives at http://www.ibiblio.org/sripedia maintained by Sri Srinivasan Sriram (ajiva_rts) We strongly urge you to kindly peruse the "Regular Issues" archived in the “Files” Section and view the Contents at “srsindex.html” (Not the individual postings allowed encouraging "Reader participation"). We are sure that you will be convinced of the quality of the contents. IF you are satisfied with the quality and contents of “Sri Ranga Sri”: Tell your friends to join by sending an email to Srirangasri- IF not: Tell us, as to how we may improve. Dasoham Anbil Ramaswamy Editor & Publisher “Sri Ranga Sri” ================================================================ xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx ================================================================ 1.IMPORTANT DAYS IN MARGAZHI (DANUR) MASAM Nakshatram /Indian Date / Western Date /Day/ Name of Acharya / Authority -------------------------------- ASWINI 17th 01/01/04 Thursday AM8.Parankusa YMD (AVA p.244) ---------- MRIGASIRSHAM 22nd 01/06/04 Tuesday AM16.Sadagopa Sadagopa YMD (AVA p.246) ------- CHITRAI 03rd 12/18/03 Thursday AM4-SrinivasYTMD (AVA p.243) ------ SWATI 04th 12/19/03 Friday NP: Valayapettai Sri Swami-Vedanta Ramanuja MD (P.463) and (Lifco p.191) - VISAKAM 05th 12/20/03 Saturday AM30.Sadagopa Srinivasa VedantaYMD (AVA p.249) and NP 11/03 Issue AM40 LNDPS Sadagopa Ranganatha SadagopaYMD ---------- KETTAI (JYESHTA) 07th 12/22/03 Monday 9.Periyanambi (Mahapoornar) (P.327) (28#P & SrgmP) Srirangam Narayana Jeeyar (28#P & SrgmP) Nalloor Aachaan Pillai (28#P) -------------- PURATTADI 14th 12/29/03 Monday AM41.Sadagopa Lakshmi Nrisimha SadagopaYMD (p.252) and (AVA p.252) Koil Periya TiruvaDigaL (28#P) ---------------------------- OTHER IMPORTANT DAYS IN MARGAZHI Dhanur Maasap Pirappu: 01st 12/16/ 03 Tuesday Krishna Paksha Ekadasi 04th 12/19/03 Friday TONDAR ADIPPODI AZHWAR: 07th 12/22/03 Monday Amavasya 08th 12/23/03 Tuesday HANUMAT JAYANTHI 08th 12/23/03 Tuesday Pagal Pathu Utsavaarambam 09th 12/24/03 Wednesday Sravana Vratam 11th 12/26/03 Friday DESIKA ARCHA DINAM 11th 12/26/03 Friday Sukla Paksha Ekadasi 18th 01/02/04 Friday VAIKUNTA EKADASI 19th 01/03/04 Saturday Pournami 23rd 01/07/04 Wednesday KOODARAVALLI 27th 01/11/04 Sunday BHOGI PANDIGAI 30th 01/14/04 Wednesday ============================================================= xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx ============================================================= 2. GOTRAS AND PRAVARAS – AN OVERVIEW –PART 16 THE GLORY OF KASYAPA GOTRAM - 2 (Anbil Ramaswamy) (Based on Monograph of MahaamahOpaadhyaaya Sri Srivatsaankaachaar Swami, now Head of Dept. French Indolgical Research Institute, Pondicherry and “MaharishigaL Charitram” by Mimamsa SirOmaNi Mimamsa Vidvan Mimamsa Kovida, Ubhaya Mimamsa Saaragjna, Veda Vedanta ChooDaamaNi Sri N.S. Devanathachariar referred by Sri Srivatsankachariar Swami) Besides the above the following authorities were also consulted for this posting: 1. C.R. Srinivasa Iyengar Swami’s Notes on Valmiki Ramayanam 2. Monier Williams Sanskrit- English Dictionary. 3. A Classical Dictionary of Hindu Mythology and religion by John Dawson, heritage Publishers, New Delhi 4. “Who is who in the Mahabharata” by Subash Mazumdar, published by Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Bombay 5. “Life and works of Sri Nigamantha Mahadesikan”- by Prof Sri A. Srinivasaraghavan. ==================================================== We mentioned in the previous posting that Sage Kaasyapa’s glory is enhanced by the life stories of his 13 wives. Let us allude to a few of them: ADITI: Aditi literally means boundless, unbroken, entire, unimpaired, happy, immense, abundant, creative power mentioned in Rig Veda as daughter of Daksha and wife of Kaasyapa and mother of the Adityas. According to Max Muller, ‘the visible infinite, visible to the naked eye; the endless expanse beyond the earth, beyond the clouds, beyond the sky” In the Rig Veda, she is frequently implored ‘for blessings on children and cattle, for protection and forgiveness” She is called “Deva Maatri”, mother of the Gods. She is represented as the daughter of Daksha. In the Yajur Veda, Aditi is addressed as “Supporter of the sky, the sustainer of the earth, sovereign of this world, and wife of VishNu”. But, in Mahaabhaarata, Ramayana and the Puranas, Vishnu is called the son of Aditi. According to Matsya PuraNa, a pair of earrings was produced at the churning of the milky ocean, which Indra gave to Aditi Devaki, the mother of KrishNa, is represented as being a new birth manifestation of Aditi. (Rig Veda i.230, Muir’s texts iv.11.v.35). DITI: Wife of Kaasyapa, She is considered to be the very personification of the Vedas. She was the mother of the Daityas. Maruts are also are described as her progeny or derived from the embryo in her womb divided into pieces by Indra. The VishNu puraNa relates that having lost her children, she begged of Kaasyapa, a son of irresistible prowess, who could destroy Indra. The boon was granted, but with the condition: ”If with thoughts wholly pious and person entirely pure, you carefully carry the babe in your womb for a hundred years”. She assiduously observed the condition. Indra came to know of this. So, he went to Diti, her rival and attended upon her with utmost humility, watching his opportunity. In the last year of the century, Diti retired without washing her feet. Indra then with his thunderbolt divided the embryo in her womb into seven portions. Thus mutilated, the child cried bitterly, and Indra being unable to pacify it, became angry, and divided each of the seven portions into seven, thus forming the swift moving deities called “maruts” from the words, ‘maa rOdih”, “weep not”, which Indra used to quiet them. DANU: She was another wife of Sage Kaasyapa. Her descendents were called “Daanavas” who were giants in size and constantly at war with the gods and created obstacles in the way of Brahmins performing Yagjnas and prevented them from carrying out their religious rituals. Among them were Hayagriva, PulOma, Shambara, Suarabhanu, Vasihvaanara, Viprachithi, Virupaaksha, Vrishaparva etc. (MB 1/65, Harivamsa iii.20). ARISHTA: She was one of the many wives of Sage Kaasyapa. Her son was ArishTanEmi. King Parpuranjaya by mistake killed ArishTanEmi’s son But, ArishTanEmi revived his son and absolved the king of all sins for having killed a Brahmana because the king had gone to him in sincere repentance. MarkandEya Rishi related this incident to the Pandavas to illustrate the powers acquired by great Rishis of Kasyapa lineage. (Vide MB 3/184) SURABHI: Literally “sweet smelling” fragrant, Charming, pleasing, lovely.She was yet another wife of Sage Kaasyapa and mother of cattle and of Rudras, sometimes considered as one of the ‘matris’ or as the cow of plenty. Amongst her many children was VasishTa’s divine cow, KaamadhEnu (aka) Nandini that could fulfill man’s all wishes. She once went to Indra in sorrowful tears to complain that one of her children was being beaten by a farmer and forced to pull very heavy loads. Indra asked her as to why she was so particular about this one son when all her other children were also being similarly ill-treated. Surabhi then replied that while she loved all her children equally, she had as special fondness for this one who was weak, meek and less privileged than the others. Accepting this line of reasoning, Indra caused heavy rains to fall on the farmer’s field so that he was obliged to release the bull from his heavy duties. Vyaasa related this to DritaraashTra to get him to be more considerate towards the PaaNDavas who had lost not only their father but also their kingdom, their wealth and everything else. (MB 3/9) PULOMA: She was one of the daughters of Daksha whom married Sage Kaasyapa. But, MB describes her as the daughter of demon Vaiswanara and states that PulOma, also a demon loved her but she became the wife of Kaasyapa. She is said to have pleased Brahma by her severe penances and obtained from him the city of HiraNyapura for the benefit of her sons. This city could not be destroyed either by Devas or by Gandharvas or by demons. But, Brahma knew that humans could destroy it and it thus came to pass that Arjuna destroyed it in accordance with the wishes of Indra. (MB 1.4 and 3.173) KADRU: Literally meaning tawny, brown, reddish brown. She was one of the 13 daughters of Daksha whom Sage Kaasyapa married. She was mother of “a thousand powerful many-headed serpents, the chief amongst whom were SEsha, Vaasuki and many other fierce and venomous serpents’. VishNu PuraNa from which this is taken, names twelve, the Vayu PuraNa forty. Her offspring bear the metronymic “KaadravEyaa” (MB 1.16) VINATA: She was the most beloved wife of Kaasyapa. He was the mother of SuparNa, AruNa and “GaruDa’, the eagle mount of Lord VishNu. That is why he is otherwise known as “VainatEya’ Vayu PuraNa describes the meters of Veda as her daughters and VainatEya himself as “Vedaatma VihagEswara”- the very personification of the Vedas. His elder brother is AruNan, who rises before Sunrise. He has two wives named Rudraa and Sukeerthi Once Vinatha and Kadru argued over the color of the tail of a horse. Vinata said it was white and so it was. But, Kadru insisted that it was black. They decided to settle the issue by inspecting the horse. But not before they entered into a wager. If it were white, Kadru would be Vinata’s slave. If black, Vinata should serve as a slave of Kadru. Kadru surreptitiously asked her sons, the black serpents to wind themselves around the tail of the horse to make it appear black. When the two rivals visited to inspect the horse, the tail looked black. As per the wager Vinata had to become Kadru’s slave. The only way to get her released from serfdom was that Vinata’s son should bring the divine nectar (amrutam) from the mansion of Indra. GaruDa dutifully set forth on the venture. At that time, Vinata blessed him with a sloka as follows: Pakshou tE maaruta: paatu chandra: prushTam cha putraka / Siras tu paatu tE Vahni: Bhaaskara: sarvamEva avatu/ VishNu: sarva gata: sarvaaNi angaani tava chaiva hi // It is said that if one set out on a long journey recites this sloka will not encounter any difficulties on the way but would safely and successfully conclude the journey. It is with this Sloka that Kousalya blessed Sri Rama when he was proceeding on exile to the forest. Such is the glory of the descendents of Sage Kaasyapa. ---------------------------- To Continue ============================================================= xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx ============================================================= 3. FROM MAHABHARATA: YAKSHA PRASNAM” Part 33: Prasnams 88 and 89 By Sri M.K. Ramaswamy Iyengar Swami,Senior Officer of Govt. of India. -- PRASNAM 88 YAKSHA: “KAH SAMAS CHA PRAKEERTITAH?” “WHAT TRULY CONSTITUTES THE MENTAL POISE, THAT IS TO SAY, TRANQUILITY OF MIND, FREE FROM ANY KIND OF AGITATION, DISTURBANCE OR REACTION?” YUDISHTIRA: “ SAMAS CHA CHITTA PRASAANTATAA” “ MENTAL POISE OR TRANQUILITY IS THAT STATE WHERE THERE IS TOTAL PLACIDITY BOTH ON THE MENTAL SURFACE AND BELOW, WITHOUT A SIGN OF ANY RIPPLE EVEN” NOTES: Such a mental poise or tranquility or ripple-free placidity of the mind does not occur naturally nor is it acquired easily. It requires an enormous amount of self-discipline and a complete mastery over the senses. Such a mind is like that imaginary, exceptional negative film in a camera which, through some not easily understood process, and in defiance of the laws of light and physics, develops an ability not to record any impression, regardless of the number of times the shutter is clicked and regardless again of the focused object remaining bathed in light and good focus too. Sage Viswamitra acquired such a faculty through prolonged penance. When KaikEyi asked Sri Rama to live in the forest, she also bid him to hurry and leave AyOdhya immediately. She also told a white lie that his father, King Dasaratha would start his daily ablutions like bathing, offering worship and partaking a meal only after Sri Rama left. When describing the scene, Valmiki says that- Iteeva tasyaam parusham vadantyaam na chaiva Raamah pravivEsa sOkam// (VR II.20.41) KikEyi had uttered words of such harshness and cruelty; yet, Sri Rama remained totally unaffected. He was untouched by grief or shock. His countenance was serene. Sage Viswamitra who was a king realized that the effulgent all consuming radiance of a Brahmarishi, (that the spiritual sage who had become aware of the Supreme, the ultimate reality) far outshone the glare and glitter emanating from a warrior king. He decided to take corrective action. He undertook a severe penance. After many rounds, each lasting over thousands of years, he got to a level equivalent to a Maharishi, that is great Sage. Brahma, the creator, who had the power to bestow what Viswamitra desired, said that all his efforts had taken him that far only. Viswamitra could scarcely conceal his disappointment. He looked at Brahma, the boon giver, with great sadness in his eyes and heart. The latter counseled him to be patient. “You have conquered your impulse to yield to anger, desire and so on. You must really aim not even to register the emotions like anger, desire etc. in order to qualify for being regarded as a Brahmarishi” said Brahma. “Na taavat tvam jitEndriyah yatasva muni saardoola” (VR. I.63.21 and 22) Not until you have attained mastery over your senses, Oh! Great Sage! Keep trying, though!” It was to such a state of mental placidity that YudishTira was referring to. ------------- PRASNAM 89: YAKSHA “DAYAA CHA KAA PARAA PROKTAA?” “WHICH IS THE BEST FORM OF KINDNESS?” YUDISHTIRA “DAYAA SARVA SUKHAISHITVAM” “WISHING THE WELL BEING OF EVERYONE IS THE BEST FORM OF KINDNESS” NOTES Kindness or compassion on the basis of a “samatva” equality – all are equal- is a virtue which evokes admiration from the immortals. In the “PrasnOttara Ratna Maalikaa”- a garland of questions and answers, Sankara Bhagavad Paada says in answer to a question that the Gods offer obeisance to one who has compassion. Qn: “Kasmai namaamsi dEvaaH kurvanti?” “To whom even the Gods pay worship?” Ans: “Dayaa pradhaanaaya” “To him who displays compassion” Sankara Bhagavad paada also clarifies that a Guru becomes universally venerable and respectable because he is not irritated over ignorance; he does not look down upon ignorance. On the contrary, to those who seek from him, he is “sishya hitaaya udyatah satatam” He has the welfare of his disciples uppermost in his mind and untiringly strives for their well-being. Sri Rama was an embodiment of Dharma. He was primarily and essentially a “sarva bhoota hitE rathah” he was dedicated for the good and well being of all living beings. ----------------------------- To Continue ============================================================== xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx ============================================================== 4. DESIKAMRUTHAM SRIMAD RAHASYA TRAYA SARAM By Sri Sadagopa Iyengar Swamin (of Coimbatore) “Srikaaryam” of the Board of Advisors of “Sri Ranga Sri” could not be accommodated in this issue ============================================================= xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx ============================================================= _______________ Our best dial-up offer is back. Get MSN Dial-up Internet Service for 6 months @ $9.95/month now! http://join.msn.com/?page=dept/dialup Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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